Carrie Mitchell | The Joinery Shop
01:16Carrie Mitchell : Founder of The Joinery Shop Origin : Edinburgh, Scotland Children : 6 month old daughter Isla Living in D...
01:16
Carrie Mitchell :
Founder of The Joinery Shop
Origin :
Edinburgh, Scotland
Children : 6
month old daughter Isla
Living in
Dubai : 8 years
Location of
shoot : The Palace Hotel & Souk Al Bahar
Can
you tell us about your business?
The
Joinery Shop is an independent gift and homeware boutique: specialising in
custom-made signboards, human-sized height rulers and re-loving old furniture.
We are committed to finding, crafting or
creating the quirkiest and quaintest of gift items which
bring charm and character into the home. We participate weekly at the Ripe Food
and Craft Market* as well as through other Pop-Ups in Dubai and will soon be
opening a studio space in Al Barsha. Follow our facebook page: The
Joinery Shop Dubai to keep posted about
developments!
What
inspired you to start The Joinery Shop?
My
husband and I had just moved into our first home together and having always
lived in furnished places prior neither of us even owned a toaster so we had to
start from scratch. I found it difficult to find furniture that wasn’t mass
produced, laminate or vastly overpriced so sourced ours from second hand shops
and facebook groups. It was thrilling finding tired dated furniture and
re-loving it and I also took a lot of joy in creating signboards and frames from
salvaged pieces of wood that I sourced: the items I created gave our home
character and points of interest and everyone who has come into our home has
always complimented it on the ‘homely’ ambience. I am proud that I have put our
stamp on a rented property and not just filled it with bland mass produced
pieces. We are moving house this week as we’ve outgrown our home but instead of
buying new furniture for our new space I’ve been busy repainting our existing
items.
When
did you launch The Joinery Shop?
I
launched The Joinery Shop in April 2014 and left my full time teaching job in
July 2014 to focus on it.
What has been the
most challenging thing about becoming a new mum & running your own
business?
Until
Isla arrived I did everything from marketing and PR, booking and staffing
events, sourcing and ordering the stock, managing accounts, creating new
products, managing social media accounts, making custom orders and reloving
furniture: I’m now beginning to identify areas where I can delegate and have a
few passionate and creative ladies who are coming on board to relove the
furniture, make custom items like chalkboards and staff the markets stalls and
pop-ups. I think the most challenging thing is finding the time and achieving a
balance: having your own company isn’t dissimilar to having a baby; you want to
be involved in all aspects of its development and you can never truly ‘switch
off’. There’s a lot of work behind the scenes and it is difficult to juggle the
two, I’m just trying to take it all one day at a time.
And the most
rewarding?
I
love what I do and I am so grateful by how well received my little business is
by people in the UAE: the response from customers when they see their vision of
a custom made board brought to life or furniture makeover is amazing and always
humbling! It’s also lovely when mums at playgroups mention The Joinery Shop or
when strangers on Facebook recommend it to a group - Dubai is a small pond and
word of mouth spreads quickly!
What advice would you give to
other new mums looking to start their own business in the
UAE?
If
you have a passion or an idea and a bit of entrepreneurial drive then go for it!
Test the water and start off at a market like ARTE or Expat Woman where you can
promote and sell your items legally under their umbrella, licensing fees here
cost a fortune so if you can operate at these places then take full
advantage!
What do you enjoy the
most about living in Dubai?
The
lifestyle! I was at a Mum and Babies coffee morning the other day and it was in
these stunning surroundings with an amazing spread, a la carte dining, goodie
bags and toys available for the little ones to play with: in Scotland you’d be
lucky to get a coffee in a greasy spoon for a free event like that! Straight
after we wandered over to Dubai Mall where you have this giant aquarium,
stunning fountains, ice rink…the list goes on. The UAE has an abundance of
quite incredible sights and experiences!
Where’s your favourite place to eat
out in Dubai?
Ooh
that’s a tough one! I was never a foodie before moving here but the quality and
variety of food as well as the ‘wow’ factor of many restaurants here have really
opened a whole new world to a palette that was accustomed to deep fried pizzas
every Thursday night
(an Edinburgh ). I guess I’d go for Eggspectation in JBR because breakfast is
my favourite meal. It has a lively, casual atmosphere, beautiful beach front
location and the most delicious menu: you can have breakfast at any time of the
day!
What do you miss about life in
Scotland?
The
banter and the Scottish accent (my husband is a Londoner so I don’t get the
pleasure of hearing it at home)
Where do you see yourself &
The Joinery Shop in 5 years?
Hopefully both will still be
going strong!
To
shop The Joinery Shop online click here.
